Description   : The wolfberry is a deciduous woody perennial plant, growing up to 1 m high. The thorny stem bear green lance shaped leaves. Wolfberry blooms with small purple flowers. The ripe wolfberry fruits turn orange red, have an oblong shape and are about 10 mm long.

Parts used    : Mainly the wolfberry fruits are harvested and eaten raw or dried. Young wolfberry shoots and leaves are also grown commercially and eaten as leaf vegetable.

Phytochemicals : Polysaccharides (LBP), Betaine, Zeaxanthin, Physalien, Cyptoxanthin, Sesquiterpenoids, Triterpenes, Beta-Sitosterol

.For deficiencyof the kidney and vital essence with symptoms of lassitudeof the loins and legs and seminal emission, wolfberry can be used togetherwith siberian solo-minseal rhizome.

For deficiencyof both the liver-yin and kidney- yin marked by dizziness and blurred vision, it is often used with chrysanthemum flower, prepared rehmannia root, dogwood fruit and chinese yam, as in Rehmannia Bolus of Six Herbs Plus Wolf-berry and Chrysan-themum (Qi Ju DihuangWan).

For yin defi-ciency with phthisicalcough, it can be given with lily bulb,anemarrhena rhizomeand fritillary tuber. Besides, steam-cooked and eaten after chewing, it can be used to treatdiabetes.

Dosage and admi-nistration: 5- 10g, decocted in water for an oral dose

The fruits of wolfberry posses warm Yang energy and sweet flavor. They enter in the energy meridians of lungs, liver, heart and kidneys. According to Chinese medicine and nutrition, the wolfberry is a blood and energy tonic and treats the following diseases and conditions:

 Energy and blood deficiency
   Poor vision and eye diseases
   fatigue, weakness
   headache
   high blood pressure
   diabetes
   high blood cholesterol
   tinnitus
   neurasthenia
   chronic hepatitis
   beri beri
   anemia
   insomnia
  weak immune system
  kidney insufficiency
  impotence, sexual weakness
  frigidity, sterility
  spermatorrhea
  osteoporosis
  arteriosclerosis
  pain in the waist and knees
  cancer
  premature aging